Morning all.
This coming weekend sees Arsenal travel to Manchester to play Utd on Sunday afternoon but before the game kicks off, Mikel Arteta and his players will know whether Fulham have managed to put a dent in City’s title hopes. Pep Guardiola has said in the past that he doesn’t like the trip down to London and now he has two to make. Craven Cottage on Saturday for a lunchtime kickoff and then he and his players return on Tuesday to play Totts.
Two other key fixtures take place this weekend, Totts v Burnley on Saturday afternoon and Aston Villa v Liverpool on Monday night. If Totts beat Burnley, as I expect them to, they’ll be just 4 points behind Villa with a game in hand and should Liverpool beat Aston Villa, Totts will go into their game knowing that only a win against City would give them a chance of securing Champions League football next season.
But of course, all of the above will be irrelevant if Arsenal don’t win at Old Trafford and that’s the tricky bit. Utd don’t have much to play for really as the best they can do is finish in a Europa League spot. Even if they win both of their games in hand of Aston Villa, they still can’t overtake them. Nor can Chelsea or Newcastle for that matter but they can still overtake Totts.
Last season, we came away from Old Trafford with nothing.
Mikel Arteta’s team started the game really well. Both sides spurned early chances but with less than 15 minutes, Gabriel Martinelli had the ball in the back of the net. However, VAR sent referee Paul Tierney to the pitch side monitor and the goal was subsequently disallowed as Martin Odegaard was deemed to have committed a foul in the buildup. An absolute joke then and even more so today having seen what Christie got away with at the weekend. Martinelli caused Utd all sorts of problems with only de Gea preventing him from getting on the scoresheet. We went into half-time a goal down after Anthony scored just after the half an hour mark. A sucker punch really as we’d been in control of the game.
After the break, we saw a couple of chances go begging again but then Bukayo Saka brought the scores level. Bruno Fernandes then set up Rashford to restore Utd’s lead and again to provide Eriksen with a simple tap in.
The starting eleven that day was:
When Utd took a 2-1 lead, Mikel Arteta turned to his bench. Nketiah, Tomiyasu, Vieira and Smith Rowe replaced Odegaard, Lokonga, White and Zinchenko. The changes didn’t work but desperate times called for desperate measures I guess.
We’ll go to Old Trafford with a very different looking squad this time. Havertz, Partey, Rice and probably Tomiyasu will be in the starting eleven. David Raya too, fresh after securing his golden glove award.
The victory for Utd was flattering because in every department, Arsenal bossed the stats barring goals scored. 61% possession, 16 shots to Utd’s 10 but just we managed just 3 on target. 4 if one counts our disallowed goal which really should have stood.
After the game, Mikel Arteta said:
We have to learn from that. We lacked the discipline that is necessary in certain areas of the pitch against these world-class players to prevent certain spaces, because overall when you look at the performance and the way we played, obviously the result should’ve been very, very different.
He’s absolutely right, the result should have been very different. This Sunday, it must be different.
Catch up in the comments.
At the moment it’s all ifs and maybes . However if we beat United or even draw on Monday it means that the scoucers can’t catch us and their Tuesday trip to Villa will mean little but pride. Of course if it’s a draw then that makes the Everton little more than an end of season parade .
As Limey said yesterday , I am resigned to be runners up and so should that be the case I won’t be going home and kicking the cat.
We have had a great season as always you can point to the points lost and the way that they given or taken away.
This Sunday may well be the last time that I take the trip to London with all the fixture changes , midweek and silly o’clock kick offs maintaining a season ticket is a luxury that a pensioner that lives 120 odd miles away has to consider . The problem is that My son and I have two bonds and getting sound information about what happens with them from the club is virtually impossible to get . Anyone that has any clue about it ? Your in put would be gratefully received.
And look what has just popped up on my E-Mails Email arsenal@assetmatch.com.
Perhaps I am not the only one that has been making enquiries and they are doing something.
I’m resigned to second place too, have been since the Villa game.
Is that your ST renewal invite?
Afternoon Rico and all,
I’ve tried to be more positive this season but it’s been hard at times, as long as we keep winning it keeps the pressure on City, when you look at Liverpool, it makes you wonder if Klopp should have kept his mouth closed about leaving
Afternoon Rico
Yeah, Old Trafford is rarely a happy hunting ground for Arsenal teams, they seem to save some of their best performances for when the Gunners pop by so I’m taking nothing for granted.
Normally a draw at that Salford dump is viewed as a good result but a draw is no good this time, especially if City thrash Fulham, so it’s win or bust.
Liverpool are 5 points behind us so a top two finish is safe it’s the top one that we want.
United may be more concerned with their upcoming Cup Final than they are about trying to stop us getting three points and putting pressure on their rivals in the match at Wembley.
Let’s face it, if we can’t beat the shambolic outfit that is United right now, we never will.
West Ham have confirmed that Moyes will leave the club when his contract expires next month.
Hi Geoff, Kev.
It’s been a very good season really, just one or two stupid blips. We’re not winning the league because we lost 2/3 games we should have won..
Agreed Cicero, they’re in the worst place since Fergie left.
If United play this lineup they are playing against C. Palace on Sunday, Arsenal could possibly get 5, easily. Casemiro and Evans as CBs, Eriksen, Mount and Mainoo in the engine room, boy it could be ugly.
Hilarios picture captured by Sky of a Utd fan who looks asleep stood up…
Man United losing 0-2 at Palace, but you just know that next weekend they’ll play like Brazil 1970
0-4 now…
Amarabat should be a red, weak refereeing again
looks like some of these refs have gone into holiday mode already.
Man Utd are currently in the very same place Arsenal were 3 or 4 years ago, minus a manager who knows what he’s doing.
They have a cabal of overpaid, underachieving big timers who lack any kind of motivation – and long may that remain the case.
But even if they bring in a manager with a ‘process’ it’s going to take until about 2030 for them to sort it out properly – hopefully…
Good morning all.
Arteta should sit his squad down to watch a recording of last night’s thrashing of United by Crystal Palace. It shows exactly how to beat a team using pace and guile.
I think both Saka and Martinelli can prosper against two very poor full backs and a pair of central defenders, Casemiro and Evans, who are both so far over the hill as to be out of sight.
Morning Rico
Another great weekend. Sunny afternoon to reflect on a victory over a pint of beer.
United will be tricky. It always is. We need to score first.
Morning Potter
Re your debenture, you need to find a buyer. The easiest way is to use a broker as this is a bit of a niche market. It looks like the prime broker may have already been in touch.
The past few years has seen the price shoot up as many people want a season ticket and this will get you one without being on the waiting list.
Depending on what bond you purchased you could be in for a nice windfall if you do choose to sell. A word of warning: the broker will charge you a fee for their service, so make sure you get them to lay out all of the costs clearly before you go ahead.
Morning Rico and Crew, yes, as thirsty Pete says Man United will be tricky, especially at their own horrible ground where they’ll have to make an effort and of course there’s the recent history between both clubs which always adds some spice, but we need to play the players opposite and not the shirt.
Morning Pete, Kev, Cicero and all.
New post up.
For me, a visit to the Emirates or Wembley is an increasingly rare occurrence, the palava of getting to and from the ground, the parking or the trek from the railway station isn’t something I miss, it’s surprising how quickly you become attuned into being the classic armchair fan.
Not having to rank up for the toilet is a boon or for an exorbitantly priced and tasteless beer or bit of slop masquerading as food by the appalling mob who run the catering at Arsenal…
At home there’s no queue for my water closet, tea is on tap, my food is both delicious and cooked well and when the game it over I don’t have to spend a couple of hours on public transport or sitting in a traffic jam caused by woke councils.
Of course you miss the atmosphere, the mood swings of the crowd and you see things that are missed on TV but I can create my own atmosphere at home and my neighbours always know when Arsenal score.